Folding skate sail



y 11, s. A. SPRINKLE 1 859,11

FOLDING SKATE SAI L Filed June 2, 1951 ATTOR NEY Patented May 17, 1932 UNITED STATES STANLEY A. SPRINKLE, OF KALAMAZOC, MICHIGAN rornrnc stern Sm.

Application filed June 2, 1931.. Serial naumov.

My present invention has reference to a device in the nature of a sail designed to be held by a skater or skier to assist in the propulsion of the operator on the ice or snow,

and the object of the invention is the provision of a sail for this purpose which shall be of a simple but rigidly supported construction and which, when not in use may be folded into a small compact package that can be carried in the pocket of the user or stored in a small space when not required for use.

To the attainment of the foregoing the invention consists in the improvement hereinafter described and definitely claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a rear elevation of the improvement.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the supports for the sail, parts being separated.

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view approximately on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4: is a similar sectional view approximately on the line 47-4: of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a similar sectional view approximately on the line 55 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a similar sectional view approximately on the line 66 of Figure 1.

The fabric body of the sail may be variously shaped, but in the showing of the drawings the same is of substantially V-shaped formation. Also as indicated by the dotted lines in Figure l the sail may be widened by having its sides arranged right angularly from its top for a determined distance and then inclined to its bottom. The sail 1 is of suitable fabric and has its upper edge rolled upon itself and the edge of the said rolled portion is stitched to the body of the said sail. This provides the upper edge with a pocket 2, but the pocket at the center and at points equidistant from the center is cut away or notched, as disclosed by the drawings.

The inner face of the sail has stitched thereto a pair of transversely arranged fabric pockets 3 arranged closer to the straight top than the pointed bottom of the sail. The pockets 3 have their confronting ends spaced from the center of the sail.

The V-shaped body on the inner face of the sail is reinforced by a tab 4: and this tab is centrally stitched to form the same. with a pocket 1;:-

In the pocket 2 there is arranged the upper transverse brace or frame members for the sail, the same being indicated by the numerals 6. The confronting ends of these members/6 are received in the longitudinal branch vofsa T-coupling 7 the depending branch ofthe said coupling, indicated by 'thenumeral 8, receiving therein the upper end of the tubular central member 9 of the brace frame for the sail. The member 9 is-formed of-two parts, one part having its end provided with a socket 10 to receive the end of the second section therein, and the last named section has its end'received in the pocket 5. The said end of the vertical member of the frame is designed to be compressed in thepocket by the tying of a tape 10 which is passed'through a pair of spaced openings in the tab 4 in a line with the sides of the pocket and, of course, through the lowerportion of the sail body. A lower transverse brace 11 is also employed, the same being received in the pockets 3 and being contacted by the vertical member 9 of'the brace frame. There is wound around the brace member-9 for the transverse brace 11 a tape 12 whose ends are knotted; From the construction and arrangement as above described it will'be noted that thebrace frame holds the sail 1 in proper spread condition and also serves as a grip for the hands of the skater or skier. By properlymanipulating or arranging the sail with-respect to the body of the user sothat the full force of wind will contact with the sail a skater or skier will berapidly propelled over ice or snow. To separate and foldthe frame sections the tapes 10 and 12 are unknotted. This permits of the separation of the sections comprising the vertical member 9 of the frame and these sections are designed to be received in the pocket 2 below the frame member 6. The sail, with the frame may be now rolled to provide a small and compact package which can be readily carried in the hand or in the pocket of the user and which when in such folded condition may be likewise stored in a small space, and it is thought that the foregoing description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings will fully and clearly set forth the construction and advantages of my improved device to those skilled in the art to which such invention relates so that further detailed description willnot be required.

Having described the invention, I claim:

1. A skating sail having transverse pockets, one of which being located at its upper end and the other at its lower end, and the remainder being intermediately disposed and 1' having its confronting ends spaced, a supporting frame including a rod received in the transverse pockets and-a vertical rod constructed of sections removably connected to the transverse rods and received in the lower pocket. 7 V

2. A skating sail having transverse pockets, one of which being located at its upper end and the other at its lower end, and the remainder being intermediately disposed and having. its confronting ends spaced, a supporting frame including a rod received in the transverse pockets and a vertical rod constructed of sections removably connected to the transverse rods and received in the lower pocket and adjustable means for securing the rod in the said lower pocket.

3. A folding skating sail having upper, lower and intermediate pockets, the intermediate pockets having their confronting ends spaced and the upper pocket being provided with notches, a frame, including a transverse rod received in the intermediate pockets, connected rods received in the upper pocket and having a socket depending centrally there from, a vertical rod comprising sections,one of which carries a socket to receive the other section therein, said vertical rod designed to have one end received in the socket in the upper transverse rod and its lower end'received in the lower pocket of the sail, means comprising tapes for tying the vertical rod to the intermediate transverse rod and for likewise compressing the lower pocket and holding the vertical rodthere'in and the vertical rod when removed from the sail and disconnected from the intermediate rod designed to have its sections separated and received in the upper pocket of the sail.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature;

STANLEY A. SPRIN'KLE; 

